Contact theory for spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gases

TL;DR

This paper develops a universal contact theory for spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gases, introducing new scattering parameters and relations that account for spin-orbit effects, and analyzing their impact on two-body and many-body properties.

Contribution

It derives the first analytical short-distance behavior and new contact relations for spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gases, expanding the traditional contact theory to include spin-orbit effects.

Findings

Introduction of two new scattering parameters due to spin-orbit coupling

Derivation of new adiabatic energy relations involving the new contact

Correction of the large-momentum tail by the new contact

Abstract

We develop the contact theory for spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gases. By using a perturbation method, we derive analytically the universal two-body behavior at short distance, which does not depend on the short-range details of interatomic potentials. We find that two new scattering parameters need to be introduced because of spin-orbit coupling, besides the traditional $s$- and $p$-wave scattering length (volume) and effective ranges. This is a general and unique feature for spin-orbit-coupled systems. Consequently, two new adiabatic energy relations with respect to the new scattering parameters are obtained, in which a new contact is involved because of spin-orbit coupling. In addition, we derive the asymptotic behavior of the large-momentum distribution, and find that the subleading tail is corrected by the new contact. This work paves the way for exploring the profound properties of spin-orbit-coupled many-body systems, according to two-body solutions.